Save A bold and creamy comfort classic reimagined with tangy kimchi, melty cheeses, and a crunchy sesame topping. Spicy Kimchi Mac & Cheese has gone viral for good reason: each bite blends American nostalgia with the zing of Korean flavors inspired by Tineke Younger.
I first made this dish to impress guests at a casual game night and everyone was blown away by the unique combo. The cheesy sauce with kimchi was so comforting—now it’s requested at every get-together.
Ingredients
- Pasta: 300 g elbow macaroni, 1 tbsp salt (for boiling water)
- Cheese Sauce: 2 tbsp unsalted butter, 2 tbsp all-purpose flour, 450 ml whole milk, 150 g sharp cheddar cheese (grated), 75 g mozzarella cheese (grated), 50 g cream cheese (cubed), 1 tbsp gochujang (Korean chili paste), 1 tsp Dijon mustard, 1/2 tsp smoked paprika, 1/2 tsp black pepper, salt (to taste)
- Kimchi Mixture: 150 g well-fermented kimchi (chopped), 1 tbsp kimchi juice, 2 spring onions (finely sliced)
- Topping: 50 g panko breadcrumbs, 1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds, 1 tbsp unsalted butter (melted), 1 tsp sesame oil
Instructions
- Prep Oven & Pan:
- Preheat oven to 200°C (390°F). Grease a medium baking dish.
- Cook Pasta:
- Boil elbow macaroni in salted water until just al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Make Cheese Sauce:
- In a saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Whisk in flour and cook for 1 minute.
- Add Milk:
- Gradually whisk in milk until smooth and thickened, about 4 and 5 minutes.
- Melt Cheese & Flavor:
- Lower heat. Stir in cheddar, mozzarella, and cream cheese until melted. Mix in gochujang, Dijon mustard, smoked paprika, and black pepper. Season with salt.
- Add Kimchi & Onions:
- Fold in chopped kimchi, kimchi juice, and sliced spring onions.
- Combine Pasta & Sauce:
- Stir drained macaroni into the cheese sauce. Mix thoroughly and pour into prepared baking dish.
- Prepare Topping:
- Mix panko, toasted sesame seeds, melted butter, and sesame oil. Sprinkle evenly over pasta.
- Bake:
- Bake 15 and 20 minutes, until golden on top and bubbling. Let cool slightly before serving.
Save My family loves making this together because assembling the layers is so hands-on. When we pull the bubbling casserole from the oven, everyone races to the table—sometimes it barely cools before it’s gone.
Required Tools
Medium saucepan, whisk, large pot, baking dish, mixing bowls, oven.
Allergen Information
Contains: Wheat (gluten), milk (dairy), sesame. Kimchi may include fish sauce—check labels. For allergies, use vegan alternatives.
Nutritional Information (per serving)
Calories: 545, Total Fat: 26 g, Carbohydrates: 57 g, Protein: 19 g.
Save
This spicy, crunchy comfort food will quickly become your favorite weeknight staple. Enjoy every bite and don’t be surprised when guests ask for seconds.